ATV vs Quad vs UTV: Differences, Prices and Which to Book
ATV and quad are two names for the same vehicle: a four-wheeler you straddle and steer with handlebars. In the US it is also called a 4 wheeler. A UTV, also sold as a side-by-side or, on many tour listings, a buggy, is a small off-road car with a steering wheel, pedals, seat belts and a roll cage. Book a quad if you want to ride solo and actively. Book a UTV if you share the ride with a partner or a child, or have never ridden. Across the 178 tour listings we track, ATV and quad tours start from $18 (median $85) and UTV and buggy tours from $19 (median $139), counting only single-vehicle tours. Counting mixed tours in both groups, the medians are $87 and $128. The most reviewed ATV tour is 4x4 ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting and Mexican Buffet Lunch in Cabo, from $75, rated 4.93 from 5,510 reviews.
- ATV, quad and 4 wheeler are one vehicle: handlebars, a straddle seat and usually one rider.
- UTV, side-by-side and most tour buggies are small off-road cars with a steering wheel, seat belts and a roll cage.
- In our catalogue, ATV and quad tours have a median from price of $85 and UTV and buggy tours $139.
- There is no fixed premium inside one destination: in Punta Cana a buggy tour starts from $45 and an ATV tour from $49.
- Book a quad to ride solo, and a UTV to share the ride with a partner, a child or a first-timer.
Off-road tour listings use four or five words for what are really two vehicles. One Costa Rica listing sells an ATV tour, the next a UTV beach tour, a third an ATV or buggy tour from the same beaches. The photos and the price per person change with the word, and it is not always clear what you will be sitting on.
This guide defines each term, puts the two vehicles side by side in one table, and shows what the tours actually cost by vehicle type, using the listings in our catalogue rather than estimates.
How we compared
We took the 178 tour listings we track in 18 countries, captured from Viator between June and September 2026, and sorted them by vehicle using the words in each title. ATV or quad means the title names ATV, quad or quadricycle and no buggy or UTV, combos with a jeep included: 59 listings in 17 countries. UTV or buggy means the title names UTV, side-by-side or buggy and no ATV or quad: 27 listings in 10 countries. Five listings offer both vehicles and were set apart. Jeep and 4x4 tours with no ATV or UTV, where a guide drives, were left out. Prices are the "from" price shown on each listing, mostly per person, and can change. A few listings price per vehicle, such as Buggy Safari for 2 people in Turkey. These figures count only tours that offer a single type of vehicle. If mixed tours are counted in both groups, as in our ATV tour cost breakdown, the medians are $128 for UTV and buggy tours and $87 for ATV and quad tours. We report the median because a handful of private tours stretch the average.
ATV vs quad vs 4 wheeler: the same vehicle
ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle. Quad, quad bike and quadricycle are the everyday names in Europe, North Africa and much of Latin America. 4 wheeler is the American nickname. All of them describe a vehicle with four wheels, a seat you sit astride like a motorbike, and handlebars with a thumb throttle. Most are built for one rider, and some tour fleets add two-person models.
So a "quad bike vs ATV" choice on a booking page is not a choice between vehicles. It is the same machine described by operators from different countries. The listing for Rhodes ATV Quad Guided Off Road Tour 2 or 1 person on 1 Quad uses both words in one title.
What a UTV, side-by-side or buggy is
UTV stands for utility task vehicle. Side-by-side describes the seating: driver and passenger sit next to each other, as in a car. You steer with a wheel, use pedals for gas and brake, wear a seat belt and sit inside a roll cage. Two-seat and four-seat versions are common on tours.
Tour operators often call the same machine a buggy. 4x4 Buggy Adventures - Off-road Polaris Experience in Greece is one example. "Buggy" can also mean a lighter dune buggy, so check the photos and the number of seats rather than the word.
Quad vs UTV: the comparison table
| Factor | ATV or quad | UTV, side-by-side or buggy |
|---|---|---|
| Other names | Quad bike, quadricycle, 4 wheeler | Side-by-side, SxS, buggy |
| Seating | Astride, usually one rider, some two-person models | Seats side by side, usually 2 or 4 |
| Controls | Handlebars, thumb throttle, hand brakes | Steering wheel, gas and brake pedals |
| Protection | Open vehicle, helmet | Seat belts and roll cage |
| Riding style | Active, you shift your weight in turns | Seated, closer to driving a car |
| Listings in our catalogue | 59 in 17 countries | 27 in 10 countries |
| From price (lowest listing) | $18 | $19 |
| Median from price, single-vehicle tours | $85 | $139 |
| Median from price, mixed tours counted in both groups | $87 (64 tours) | $128 (32 tours) |
UTV vs ATV tour prices: no fixed premium
The median UTV listing costs more than the median ATV listing, but that gap says more about where UTV tours are sold than about the vehicle. Many of the UTV listings in our catalogue are in Canada, Spain and Portugal, where every tour costs more. Inside the same destination the gap moves in both directions.
| Destination | ATV or quad listing | UTV or buggy listing |
|---|---|---|
| Cabo, Mexico | Migriño Beach & Dunes off-road Tour ATV: from $70, 2 h, 4.79 (719 reviews) | Cabo Migrino Beach & Desert UTV Tour and Tequila Tasting: from $100, 2 h, 4.9 (555 reviews) |
| Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | Punta Cana Half Day 4x4 ATV Adventure: from $49, 3 h, 4.92 (969 reviews) | Off Road Buggy Adventure: from $45, 4 h, 4.9 (934 reviews) |
| Red Sea, Egypt | Single Quad Biking in Hurghada: from $27.50, 3 h, 4.87 (191 reviews) | Desert Buggy Safari Driving Sunset - Sharm El Sheikh: from $19, 4 h, 4.89 (98 reviews) |
In Cabo the UTV costs more. In Punta Cana and on the Red Sea the buggy is cheaper. Before you compare, check whether the price is per person or per vehicle, because a UTV shared by two or four people changes the maths.
Quad or UTV tour: which one to book
- Solo traveler who wants an active ride: a quad. You control the vehicle yourself and the price is per rider.
- Couple who want to ride together: a two-seat UTV, or a two-person ATV where the listing offers one.
- Family with children: a UTV with a seat for each child. Read our guide to family ATV tours and kids' ages.
- First time off-road: a UTV if you drive a car but have never ridden a motorbike. Several ATV listings say they are set up for beginners, such as 3hr ATV/ Quad biking adventure in Chiang Mai.
- Snow or lava terrain: Iceland and Canada add their own vehicles. See ATV tours in Iceland.
Safety and licences
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says on its ATV safety page (consulted October 2026) that most ATVs are designed for one rider, that you should never carry more passengers than there are seats, and that riders younger than 16 should drive only youth models. On a guided tour that means a passenger belongs on a two-person ATV or in a UTV seat, never squeezed onto a single-rider quad.
Licence rules are set by each operator. Buggy Tour Gran Canaria asks for at least one driver per buggy with a valid driving licence. Volcano ATV Tour in Iceland asks the driver for a licence and accepts passengers from 6. Peekaboo Slot Canyon UTV and Hiking Adventure in the United States asks drivers to be 21 or older with a valid licence. Other listings say nothing, so check before you pay. Our ATV tour safety tips cover the rest.
Before you book
- Look at the vehicle photos and the seat count, not only the word in the title.
- Check whether the price is per person or per vehicle.
- Read the requirements for driver age, licence and passenger age.
- Check the duration of riding time against the total tour time, which often includes transfers and stops.
- Compare costs with our ATV tour cost breakdown, and if you are thinking about renting instead, read ATV rental vs guided tour.
Browse ATV and UTV tours by country on the destinations page, or start with Cabo San Lucas, Punta Cana and the best ATV tours worldwide.
FAQ
Is a quad bike the same as an ATV?
Yes. A quad bike and an ATV are the same four-wheel vehicle with handlebars and a straddle seat. Quad is the common word in Europe and North Africa, ATV the common word in North America. In our catalogue, 59 tour listings in 17 countries use one or both words.
What is the difference between a quad and a UTV?
A quad is ridden astride with handlebars, usually by one person. A UTV, or side-by-side, is driven seated with a steering wheel, pedals, seat belts and a roll cage, usually by 2 or 4 people. In our catalogue the median quad tour is $85 and the median UTV tour $139 counting single-vehicle tours only, or $87 and $128 when mixed tours count in both groups.
Is a 4 wheeler the same as a quad?
Yes. 4 wheeler is the American nickname for an ATV or quad. It does not mean a 4x4 jeep, which on tours is usually driven by a guide. In our catalogue, 59 listings in 17 countries name an ATV or quad in the title.
Are UTV tours more expensive than ATV tours?
Not always. The median UTV tour in our catalogue is $139 against $85 for ATV tours, but in Punta Cana Off Road Buggy Adventure starts from $45 while Punta Cana Half Day 4x4 ATV Adventure starts from $49. Check if the price is per person or per vehicle.
Do you need a driving licence for an ATV or UTV tour?
It depends on the operator. Volcano ATV Tour in Iceland (from $141.49, 303 reviews) and Buggy Tour Gran Canaria (from $78.24) ask the driver for a licence. Jade Caverns and Mayan Village Cozumel ATV TOUR says a licence is not mandatory. Read the requirements on the listing.
Is a UTV tour easier than a quad bike tour for beginners?
For most people who drive a car, yes, because a UTV uses a steering wheel and pedals. Quads need you to shift your weight in turns. Some quad tours, such as 3hr ATV/ Quad biking adventure in Chiang Mai (from $112.57, rated 4.94 from 300 reviews), say they are set up for beginners to intermediate riders.
Can two people share one ATV on a quad tour?
Only on a two-person model. The CPSC says most ATVs are designed for one rider. Listings such as Rhodes ATV Quad Guided Off Road Tour 2 or 1 person on 1 Quad and Volcano ATV Tour offer two-person ATVs, from $191.85 and $141.49.
